Plans for name change hearing

2010-04-08 22:06

Pretoria - Preparations were underway for Saturday's public meeting at the Pretoria City Hall where the issues of the city's name change will be discussed in detail, the Tshwane Royal House said on Thursday.

Deputy chairperson of the royal house Peter Tshoane said they would also bring to the table their wish to be part of the city council.

This, he said, would also help in the development of their people and the growth of the city.

The descendants of King Tshwane, ruler of the BaTswana people, have continually raised their concern over government's "indecisiveness" on renaming Pretoria after King Tshwane.

The renaming of Pretoria to Tshwane was recently withdrawn from the Government Gazette by Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana.

Xingwana had placed a notice in the January 29 Government Gazette in connection with the registration of the Tshwane municipal area as a geographic name.

The descendants expressed disappointment when this happened while other organisations like the Freedom Front Plus saw it as a victory.

Tshoane said municipal officials, political parties, traditional leaders and the business sector were expected to be guests at Saturday's public hearing.

He said the meeting would start at 09:00 with a "symbolic" demonstration around Andries Pretorius' statue and a walk-about to the City Hall.